The first snow of the year

It's snowing! When Maia and Mia play in our living room, it sarted snowing (7:40ish). This is the first snow of the year and the first snow for Maia and Mia. though I don't want heavy snow, I'm happy that they saw snow.
They sometimes stare at it snowing. Snowing seems to be a mysterious thing for them. I'd like to show them a snowman sometime this winter.

Happy Halloween!

Maia & Mia's 1st Halloween!

It was "PERFECT" mild weather in CT. Yoshi held Mia and I held Maia in Elmo-s for trick or treating. We just went to our close friends' houses and our club house in our condo. It took a 20 minute walk. That was enough for us! By the time, Maia fell asleep in my arm. Since they won't remember it, I took their picture in memory.

We got a lot of candy! I can eat them, but we also got play dough. Umm...

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MaiaとMiaの、初めてのハロウィン！

あたたかく、ハロウィン日和のコネチカット。MaiaとMiaは、セサミストリートのエルモになりました。最初で最後になっちゃうのかなぁ〜。こんな楽しいイベントは、帰国後もできるといいな。２人の記憶には残らないので、記念に写真を撮りました。

Milford Downtown Farmers' Market

ミルフォードのファーマーズマーケットに行って来ました！
今年から駅近くの便利な場所で、しかも土曜日開催になりました。
I love local food! I took a walk around Milford Green with my family and went through a Farmers Market. Though it was held by Walnut Beach last year, they open the market near Milford train station. It is very convenient!! I bought a pint of grape tomatoes and Italian bread. And also I met my ESL teacher. I can't take her class any more after I was pregnant, however, we have kept in touch. Anyway, it was good opportunity showing her my babies.
Since I stay home with my babies weekdays, I really enjoyed waking and inhaling fresh air. It wasn't very hot. (It's cool at early morning this week. ) I felt autumn is coming...

**Milford Downtown Farmers' Market**
58 River Street, Milford, CT 06460 (corner of Darina and River)
www.milforddowntownfarmersmarket.com

(July-October)Every Saturday July 5 - October 18　
9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Summer is here.

Hot summer days have been here. It almost reached 100 degrees F (over 30 degrees C). People go to beach or a swimming pool. The swimming pool in our condo was packed! I can't believe it because most Japanese people don't go out if it's very hot. Most Americans seem to be oppositte. Anyway, it isn't normal weather in June.I've been at home with my twins. Since they are small and I don't want to take them.
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コネチカットのことを話すとき、東京より涼しくて避暑地みたいな感じ！と言うこともあるのですが、数日真夏日が続いています。今日も３０℃超えました。こんな日は、皆こぞってビーチやプールに行きます。メモリアルデーからオープンしているコンドミニアムのプールも、人で溢れていました。それもたいていの人は、プールに入らず甲羅干し。信じられないでしょう〜。日本人の場合、暑さを避けて涼しく過ごすことも多いように思いおますが、アメリカ人は正反対ですねー。６月にして、真夏の暑さ。例年にない気温ですが、皆嬉しそう〜。私はもちろん、双子達と家にいます。まだ小さいベビーを連れて、外に出るのは危険ですからね。
皆さんも、日射病＆熱射病に気をつけてください！

Spring time!

It's getting warmer day by day. Finally I found flowers and buds! I'm sure no more snow in CT. It's good to my babies and me. I'm now 36 weeks pregnant. YAY!! I'll have my babies in a few weeks.
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日に日に暖かくなり、ついにお花も発見！ここまで春めいてきたら、もう安心。雪が降ることもない。ベビーも私も安心です。今日から妊娠３６週目に入りました。やった〜。あと数週間で出産の予定です。

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I missed the "Egg Hunt" which my friend's family held, because it was getting hard to move and walk a lot. That means my twins are still im my belly. That's a good thing! I'll join the egg hunt next year with them. Anyway, I visited another friend's house. Eveery easter, he hold a party but I've never been there. Though I couldn't stay long, Yoshi and I had a nice time with them. I saw a deer family from his house. It is Easter & spring time!He gave us Easter dinner! Thank you.
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Happy Easter!みなさんいかがお過ごしで下か？私は友達の家族が開催するエッグハントに参加したかったのですが、さすがにあまり動き回れそうになく断念。行きたかったけど、でも行けないってことはまだ双子がお腹にいてくれてるってことで、それはいいことです。来年は双子たちと一緒に行きたいな。それとは別で、友達が開催するパーティーに参加してきました。妊娠後期で疲れやすく、長時間の滞在はできなかったものの、Yoshiも私も楽しい時間を過ごしました。新しい出会いもあったし、窓から鹿のファミリーも見ることができて、まさにイースター＆春です。ディナーまで頂いて帰ってきました。いつもありがとう。

Spring is coming!

I don't see any flowers yet, but I can hear birds' chirp. Mourning doves often visit our porch, it makes me happy.Hopefully, they'll builed a nest near my house this spring.
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まだ花はひとつも咲いていませんが、鳥の鳴き声を聞くようになりました。コネチカットにも、少しずつ春が近づいています。モーニングダブ（鳩の一種）がよくベランダにやってくるようになって、うれしい気持ちになります。近くで巣作りをしてくれたら嬉しいな。（数年前に一度、玄関に巣を作っていました）でも今や、右隣さんは春〜秋にかけて外に猫を放してるし、左隣さんは犬を飼っているから、こんなところに巣は作らないかなぁ。

Heaviest snow in CT this winter

Even it was snowing, Yoshi and I went to a Hospital to have an Ultrasound. It was the heaviest snow so far... I hope this is the last snow. All schools were closed and many people took a day off (people go to work by car, roads were icy and slippery).
My neighbors, Piyo and her father was making a snowman. I think the father made most of them... 'cause it looks taller than me. I don't wanna go out and fall down, but I enjoyed watching them.
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この冬一番の雪。とうとう通院日と雪の日が重なってしまいました。これでもう雪は終わりだといいんだけど。さすがに学校は全て休み、会社も休んでいる人が多いようでした（車通勤だから、道路が凍って滑る日は危ないし、雪もまだまだ降り続きそうだし）。
お隣さんのピヨちゃんと、彼女のお父さんは、雪だるまを作っていました。たぶん９割はお父さんが作ったのだと思うけど。だって、雪だるまが大きい〜私より背が高そう。（笑）外に出て転びたくないから私は外にでないけど、見てるのは楽しいです。

Nice weather

No snow and bright sun, it's a nice winterday.

pieces of scenery in Stratford

(from left) Jan. 13th, Jan. 14th
It was nice weather this past weekend, and we had slight snow on Monday and Tuesday.

Where is very cold winter?

Is today the last week of the year? It isn't very cold. Snow is almost melted now. I don't like very cold winter, I'm happy! (I already had frostbite.) Children might miss snow...
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12月の最後の週とは思えないですね〜過ごしやすい暖かさ。雪もすごい勢いで融けていって、もうほとんどなくなりました。寒いのが苦手な私にはとてもうれしいことです。（今年もすでにしもやけができて、足が痛痒いですから。。。）でも子供たちは、雪がなくて寂しいんだろうな。

Heavy snow

We had snow storm and all school around our town were closed. Though the Bible class I join planted Christmas service at a church, it was also canceled. I'm staying home. This is the view from a window. Snow is changing sleet (freezing rain), it is NOT good for drivers. Roads will became sloppery. Keep warm & Stay inside!

Scenery near my condo

What I saw in our condos - birds' nests, covered boats and squirrels- fallen leaves are unusual in December...

Covered with snow while I went shopping

Snow covered roads without notice. I was very surprised after shopping. I drove to my house safely somehow, but I don't want to drive again under the condition! Since my car is tiny and not 4WD, I was very scared with my fetuses.

Apple picking at Bishop's Orchards

I love apples called GALA. I picked many of them.

9/1 Raspberry picking with mom

My mother looked forward to going raspberry picking in CT, and we went to the Bishop's Orchards. Today, the farmer offered to pick red (regular) raspberries and golden raspberries. I didn't know they grew golden ones. Anyway, we enjoyed picking them. Then we bought some prepared food and soup at their farmers market. Everything was delicious! I loved their gaspacho very much.
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ブルーベリー農園を営んでいる母。コネチカットに来たら、農園に行きたいと張り切っていました。あいにくブルーベリーのシーズンは終わっており（だから母もここに来られたのだけど）、ラズベリー狩り♪数週間前にも行った、ビショップスオーチャードへ。この日は何と、農園のお兄さんが「まだ誰も摘み取っていない列！？」に連れて行ってくれました。そして、「（通常の）赤いラズベリーとゴールデンラズベリー（黄色）のどちらも摘んでいいですよ〜」と優しいお言葉。ゴールデン種があったとは、知りませんでした。とにかく、楽しみました。もちろん、母が一番元気でした。帰りに、農園が経営しているマーケットに立ち寄り、お惣菜とスープを購入。どれもおいしかったけど、ガスパチョが特に気に入りました。穫れたてトマトがふんだんに使われていて、食欲増進！？危険なほど。（笑）

Raspberry Picking at Bishop's Orchards

I went to Bishop's Orchards with Hughes san to pick raspberries! It is located in Guilford, CT. I like fresh raspberries, they don't last for a long time. I froze some, and I baked a raspberry chiffon cake. Though there is no photos, I put fresh raspberries in a cake. The pink cream is made of havy cream and raspberries. By the way, Bishop's Orchards offer other pick your own fruits. Now They have been opening a pear and peach farm too.

Milford Oyster Festival

Milford Oyster Festival was held on Friday, August 17 - Saturday, August 18, 2007. I ate 6 kinds of fresh oysters with lemon juice. They tasted very good, however I couldn't memorize their names. See you next summer!

Beautiful flowers

My friend who has green thumb shared some hydrangeas from her garden with me. They are very beautiful. They make my life gracious.
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友達が、お庭の紫陽花を分けてくれました。切ってしまってもったいないくらい。紫陽花の季節も、そろそろ終わりだそうです。それにしても見事なお花！いつもの部屋が急に優雅になりました。、ゆったりした気分で過ごせそう。

Blueberry picking at Jones Family Farm in Shelton

Blueberry season in coming! Many farms offer to picking your own blueberry! I went to Jones Family Farm in Shelton with my friend. It is getting to my summer tradition. Owing to the a lot of rain, they tasted so so, however we enjoyed the clear atmosphere and experience.

Views of Greenwich Point

"The scenery of Greenwich Point"
The park and beach are municipal, and they don't open to public between May to October. Basically, they are the facilities for residents. If you are a non-resident, you have to pay admission fee at some specific places. In our case, the friend had visitor tickets.
During the period from November 1 through April 30, no fees will be charged to enter Greenwich Point and Byram Park. I'll visit the park in the winter! The sky will be clearer than that in the summer. I'm very happy to have seen the scenery. For more information of 2007, click here!

Tashua Knolls Golf Course

My friends took Yoshi and I to Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull, CT. We enjoyed golf outing. It was my second time to play golf in the U.S.. I was nervous before going the golf course, but I had a wonderful time with them. They were very nice and happy-go-lucky. It makes me very easy and I played naturally. (Of course, I didn't count my score.) The municipal course was very beautiful! I want to come again with them.

A movie shoot

A movie, "Revolutionary Road" has been filming in some places in Connecicut. I saw Kate Winslet and some other acters! Leonardo DiCaprio was't there at the day though. I can't wait to see the movie!
Plot Outline: A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.

the 21st annual New England Arts and Crafts Festival in Milford

The Milford Green held the 21st annual New England Arts and Crafts Festival on Sat. and Sun., July 7 and 8 rom 10 am to 5 pm. The festival seemed to feature more than 125 artists and crafters exhibiting and selling their work. There were a food court, music, a puppet show. I just took a look because of the hot weather. We had lunch at a my favorite restaurant, Seven Seas. We bought some candies at H.MANGELS Confectioner, and get different kinds of cake at Ambrosia Bakery. I think I ate too much, anyway It was a delicious day.
More information about Art & Craft show --- http://www.smartfrogs.com/ct.html.
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Seven Seas Restaurant
16 New Haven Avenue, Milford, CT 06460-3307
203-877-7327
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H.MANGELS Confectioner
107 River St, Milford, CT 06460
203-783-9770
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Ambrosia Bakery
272 Naugatuck Ave, Milford, CT 06460
203-876-5077
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週末のミルフォード。アーツ＆クラフツフェスティバルをやっていました（年２回くらいやっていたような）。ミルフォードの駅前には、芝生のエリアがあって（ミルフォードグリーン）、ここを使って様々なイベントが開催されます。続きを読む

Stoney Creek in Branford

-Scenery of Stoney Creek- I highly recommend this area. It is not far from my house in Stratford, and the scenery is amazing. We can enjoy a 40 minute cruise too.
-ストニークリークの景色- こんな近くに、こんなにきれいな場所があったとは。教えたくないくらい、絶対オススメのスポットです。あえて開発していない地域のようで、お店も少ないし、ビーチも小さいですが非常にいい雰囲気です。周りは高級住宅地のせいか、上品な雰囲気が漂っていました。景色はまさにニューイングランド。ビーチ近くより、４０分のクルーズも楽しめます。この辺りにある小さな島々を廻って戻って来るようです。

Westport Farmers' Market

I went to the Westport Farmers' Market at the Westport Country Playhouse. They sell native farm produce, dairy products, seafood, meat, honey and baked things. Many of things are organic and they are pretty expensive, however, native things are more tasty and reliable. I had raw oyster of Westport with lemon juice. It was awesome! I got a jar of honey.
According to WestportNow.com,"Beginning Thursday, July 12, the Playhouse Farmers Market will be located in Winslow Park just to the right of the Country Playhouse entrance into the park. The new locale is an experiment and, if all goes well, the change will become permanent. The new location provides additional parking. "















チカリンさんと、Westportのファーマーズマーケットに行ってきました。夏の恒例行事。(*^^*)続きを読む

Stratford Fireworks

Yoshi and I enjoyed Stratford Fireworks with my friend and her family. We saw the fireworks from the Walnut Beach in Milford. We also saw Westhaven Fireworks distanlty. Many towns in the US celebrate the 4th of July (Independence Day) with Fireworks. I think fireworks is a symbol of Independence Day for Americans. Many towns also have fireworks displays during summer in Japan too. Fire woks is a representative thing in the summer in Japan. We enjoy watching and listening to the fireworks. We think it makes ourselves cool. Both American and Japanese enjoy fireworks, but they have different meanings. The same things is that fireworks are beautiful and peaceful.
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地元、Stratfordの花火大会を見てきました。といっても、例年通り隣町のミルフォードのビーチで友達家族＆その友達（総勢30人ほど）と集合、混雑を避けてゆったりと鑑賞です。続きを読む

Beautiful days

Beautiful days give us nice and cool breeze. I don't think it's really 3 Hs (hazy, hot and humid). Even though people living in west coast say "I don't like east cost because it's humid", I feel comfortable. It's much less humid than Japan. It's a perfect season to go out! Where am I going today?
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美しくて気持ちのいい日が続いています。そよ風が心地いい♪典型的な真夏の天気である、空がかすんで蒸し暑い日はまだあまりない気がします。少なくとも、このところの天気は過ごしやすい。西海岸に住んでいる人は、東海岸は湿気があって嫌だというけれど、私にはちょうどいいです。もちろん、日本の湿度とは比べ物になりません（たぶん、日本から来たら乾燥してると感じると思う）。外に出るのに最高のシーズン。今日はどこに行こう？

Strawberry picking

I saw Strawberry field opens Through July 1 on Jones Family Farm's official site. I haven't gone for strawberry picking this season yet. That means I haven't made strawberry jam for this year. "I have to go!", but my bread dought was rising... I had only one and half hours. It was a 30 minutes drive, and I picked strawberry for 30 minutes, and I made it somehow.
The strawberries are much sweeter than last year. I think recently we didn't have rain, and their taste got concentrated. Anyway, I'm satisfied with the strawberries. I'm going to make jam, juice and just eat them.
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季節ごとに訪れているJones Family Farmのホームページを見たら、イチゴ狩りは７／１まで！今日を含めて３日しかない。まだ、１年分のジャムも作っていない！週末の天気はあてにならないし。と、妙な使命感にかられて行ってきました。続きを読む

Around my house on Sunday May 6th.

I just stayed home because I was tired. I'm OK during the day, but my temperature goes up at night. I know it's usual though... I enjoy the fresh green from the window or near the parking lot. Leaves are growing very fast. I won't be able to find small birds any more. At any rate I should get well soon first.
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以前からの約束だったこともあり、張り切っていた土曜日ですが、夜は発熱。37.5℃とはいえ、平熱が低い私には結構つらい。ということで日曜昼間は元気でも、静養していました。窓からの景色も、駐車場近くの景色も、みるみる美しくなってきました。うれしいけれど、バードウォッチングはもう出来なくなるなぁ（葉に隠れて見えなくなってしまう）と思うと寂しいなぁ。でもまず何よりも、体力を回復させることか。（苦笑）